BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Saskatoon, SK, first-generation Ethiopian Canadian, Elsa Gebremichael is a musician, songwriter, producer, performer and director with a dynamic musical history. In her previous projects, Elsa has toured throughout Europe and North America, showcased at festivals around the world such as SXSW, NXNE, CMW, HPX, CMJ in NYC, BIME in Spain, and The Great Escape in Brighton, has opened for renowned artists such as Janelle Monae, Tegan and Sara, and Metric, performed at the second-ever Afropunk Music Festival in NYC, and was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award (Breakout West) for “Pop Recording of The Year”. All of these experiences have molded her into the artistic entrepreneur she is today, creating in what she likes to call her 'solo-collaborative' project, Wild Black. 

Wild Black is a multi-hyphenate creative making waves receiving acclaim from major outlets like AFROPUNK, The Fader, Indie88, Yohomo, Earmilk, The Toronto Star, and Analogue Trash, who dubbed her latest single ‘I Miss The High’ "Madonna and Blood Orange collaborating on a glittering pop bop”. CBC has featured Wild Black on radio shows “Q” and “The Block”, and featured her on CBC Music’s esteemed lists "Songs You Need To Hear” and “28 Canadian albums we can’t wait to hear in 2024”. Wild Black's music is synced to TV shows such as “Strays” on CBC Gem, “Querencia” on APTN's Lumi, and “The D Cut” on Crave Canada, and she’s a two-time recipient of the MVP project by RBCxMusic and Prism Prize, supporting the visuals for her singles "Moon Star Lover" and "Stay Dreamin’”. With some exciting festival and show announcements on the horizon, some of her favourite past performances include playing on main stages at Pop Montreal, Toronto Jazz Fest, Saskatoon Pride Festival, Regina Folk Festival, Winterruption, Venus Fest, and opening for Yukon Blonde at Long Day’s Night Festival.

Playing with moods while blending / bending genres and vibes, Wild Black’s music brings a unique and refreshing sound to the Canadian scene as she effortlessly combines influences of disco, 80s/90s dance, pop, and rock into her genre-fluid alternative / indie dream pop sound. Her dynamic presence and captivating stage show combines live instrumentation with electronic elements to create an upbeat and infectious soundscape, luring your body straight to the dance floor. Last summer, Wild Black announced her signing to Toronto indie label Next Door Records and together are gearing up for the release of Wild Black’s debut album. Stay Close!

PRESS QUOTES

”I Miss The High” is a bittersweet take on glossy 80s pop with a soul undercurrent in the vocals and lyrics. Wistful but allied to a sublime melody, think Madonna and Blood Orange collaborating on a glittering pop bop to get a feel what delight awaits you once you hit play” - ANALOGUE TRASH

“Wild Black hits the sweet spot between dreamy melancholy and forward-looking desire on her dancey new single "Stay Dreamin" which channels the 80s-inflected spirit of Blood Orange and Carly Rae Jepsen" - TORONTO STAR

"Wild Black embodies the qualities of the ultimate cool girl who moves through the world with balance and intention. Stay Dreamin’ tells a story of optimism, self-love and authenticity, and her smooth, self-assured vocals are set to a dance mix that you'll be humming for days. - CBC MUSIC

"Now based in Toronto, it’s been super exciting to see her blossoming as Wild Black, bringing an emotionally poignant songwriting perspective to progressive, new-wave dance beats." - AFROPUNK

"The funk-laden track is smooth, and its guitar-heavy production the perfect backdrop for Wild Black's airy vocals." - THE FADER

"it's fresh and earnest, embodying the fairytale weightless nature of the night sky's landscape.. 'Moon, Star, Lover' is not just a tribute to the misrepresented and mistreated but it's a confidence-soaked reminder of how far you can come with acceptance in your heart." – EARMILK

WILD BLACK PRESS

HEAVEN IS WILD BLACK’S “MOON STAR LOVER” VIDEO

We at AFROPUNK have known and admired the woman behind Wild Black for a hot minute. Elsa Gebremichael was just a musically rambunctious teenager from Saskatoon, Canada when her first band, From Chimpan A to Chimpan Z, played AFROPUNK events in NYC, before the festival even launched. Over the years, we’ve seen her grow in the synth-rock duo, We Were Lovers. Now based in Toronto, it’s been super exciting her blossoming as Wild Black, bringing an emotionally poignant songwriting perspective to progressive, new-wave dance beats.

Head back to summer camp with Wild Black’s “Moon Star Lover”

Toronto-based artist Wild Black is holding onto the long-chilled memories of summer with the camp-themed visuals for the single "Moon Star Lover." The funk-laden track is smooth, and its guitar-heavy production the perfect backdrop for Wild Black's airy vocals.

Wild Black urges you to find your "Moon, Star, Lover" in a unifying summer camp

In a time where the world is left arguing over who is right, defining the new wrong, and generally just shoving its own opinion down the Twitter throat, Canada's Elsa Gebremichael (aka Wild Black) eagerly reminds us of a better, simpler time in the latest video for "Moon, Star, Lover".